CD Reviews

Why is the Living Strings Christmas Albums Not on CD

Larry W. Webber | Clinton, Tennessee | 11/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe after all these years, that RCA has not released the Living Strings Spirit of Christmas and LivingStrings and Living Voices White Christmas on CD'S. these arethe most beautiful christmas songs that where ever made by them."

Some Of The Most Beautiful Christmas Music, but......

rodney wiltin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | 05/22/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This has some of the most beautiful christmas music you will ever hear. The reason for that is simple. The last five songs, starting with WHITE CHRISTMAS straight through to the last song are from the greatest christmas album ever recorded, the LIVING STRINGS very own, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, album. These last five songs (songs six to ten) are all instrumental and have no singing just to let you know. However, the majestic orchestra sound on these songs clearly shows us that voices are not needed. In fact, it's probably better that there are no voices as these renditions are among the best or even the best version of each song. Just amazing.

But taking so many songs from another album doesn't sit too well with me as it would be so much better to have that other album released on it's own as it's the ultimate christmas album (I have a rare copy of that other album, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, on cd). Instead, they should have just taken one or two songs from that album and taken other songs from other albums by the LIVING STRINGS and LIVING VOICES since they recorded at least five christmas albums. For a compilation, it's just too many songs from one album. This is one negative point and loses one star from the rating.

The other star that gets taken away is the first several songs (tracks one to five) which were cut in the 1970's. These songs have singing in them and also the orchestra so you get the full LIVING STRINGS and LIVING VOICES with these cuts. Problem is is that they have lost the deep, older style/sound that their other christmas albums had from the 1960's and they sound too modern. Now, they're not really bad and are still listenable (perhaps due to my favorite arranger/conductor, Johnny Douglas who arranges 'all' the songs on this cd/album) but when you have all these more modern sounding songs first and then the deep, older styled songs after, it just doesn't sound completely right to me. But at least these first five songs (both songs by themselves and medleys) are pretty unique to this album/cd and that you won't usually to ever find anywhere else.

With all that said, if this cd is the only christmas cd you can get by the LIVING STRINGS and LIVING VOICES, then by all means, purchase it. Especially for the last five songs starting with WHITE CHRISTMAS. These last five songs may very well become your favorite christmas songs ever recorded just because of the power the LIVING STRINGS and Johnny Douglas brings to them.

"

Contains half of a classic holiday album

Ludix | Upton, MA United States | 11/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains about half of the tracks from the classic Living Strings instrumental album, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. If only RCA would see fit to release the entire set!"

Most feautiful sounds of christmas from the living strings

mrursu | DURAND, MI USA | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"if this album is like the spirit of christmas whith the living strings label\album no.rca camden cas 783 then i give it a five star rating."